He works up the courage to tell me over two slices of cheap Center City pizza. His. It's the kind of stuff I won't touch unless I'm drunk or desperate.
Strange, how he's ravenous now. Last night, there were two dozen clams coaxed open by white wine, my narrow kitchen fragrant with expectation. He remained in bed — my bed — mumbles he's tired from traveling.
"I think there have been some misunderstandings," he says, cramming pizza into his mouth. "I can't do long distance."
He had flown across country, I thought, to visit me. A misunderstanding.
Clams don't keep. I ate every one.